Ali Edwards's Blog, page 156
November 1, 2017
For The Love Of Books | October 2017
I am almost done with the giant (700+ page) Stephen King/Owen King book Sleeping Beauties. I've been making my way slowly but surely over the last couple of weeks. That makes four books for October which feels like just the right amount for me (see details at the bottom of this page for what I finished in October). We have a vacation planned later this month so I'm looking forward to a few other titles on my Kindle.
This post is part of my monthly series "For The Love Of Books" where I track and share what I've been reading in 2017. I'm also trying to do that on Goodreads as well if you are already into that platform. My hope is to post on or near the first of each month to share what I ended up reading last month and then share what books I'm selecting from Book Of The Month (BOTM) for the next month.
Please Note // This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Today is November 1 and that means it's time for current
BOTM subscribers to choose books from this month's selections.
This month I selected on book: The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman. Can't wait to finish up Sleeping Beauties and move on to this one!
IN PROGRESS
Started But Haven't Finished // Sometimes I start a book and get part way through and set it down for one reason or another - lately it's been that I've been more excited to read something else:
Secret Garden // I think I have about 1/4 left of this one.
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind The Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way Of Living // Reading this one slowly when I feel like I want/need to read the words.
Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood (Kindle) // Loving this one and picking it up here and there between other books.
At Home In The World: Reflections On Belonging While Wandering The Globe // A new book from Tsh Oxenreider who runs the site The Art of Simple. This one is a memoir about her family's nine-month traveling adventures.
The Power Of Meaning: Crafting A Life That Matters // Savoring this one slowly.
Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road To Self-Love And Miracles // Reading this as part of an online workshop I'm currently taking. READ IN 2017
NOTE:
(BOTM) means the book came from the Book Of the Month Club.
JANUARY
You Will Know Me (BOTM) // First book from BOTM. Read it in a day and a half (suspense). Enjoyed.
Lucky You (BOTM) // I remember liking this one as I was reading it but to be honest I can barely remember it now. This is why I'm trying to remember to post some short thoughts on Instagram when I finish each one.
FEBRUARY
Behind Her Eyes (BOTM) // Suspense. Crazy twist. Enjoyed.
Perfect Little World (BOTM) // Vacation read. Liked the change of pace on this one (had been reading more suspense). This one was a sweet little story with topics of motherhood and family and tribes of people and how things change.
What Alice Forgot (Kindle) // Vacation read. Totally enjoyed this story and imagining what it would be like to experience memory loss in this way. Not suspense.
MARCH
The Twilight Wife // Aaron picked this one out at Target to read while we were on vacation and I read it when he was done. I thought this one was okay - probably had something to do with the fact that I read What Alice Forgot right before this one and they both deal with memory loss (this one is more suspense).
The Stranger In The Woods (BOTM) // Non-fiction. This true story about a man living in the woods of Maine for almost 30 years read like a long-form magazine article. I enjoyed the break from the fiction I've been reading.
Exit West (BOTM) // This one was a lot different from what I've been reading and I appreciated it for that. Different kind of narrator (omniscient) and subject matter (refugees). Glad I read it.
Marlena (BOTM) // Gave this one three stars on Goodreads. I'm going to go with "like" but not "love" on this one. I kinda think, after finishing it, that it might be one that will pop up in my mind as I go about my days (so maybe it should get a better review). I enjoyed the story and she used a few writing techniques that I really liked. Sometimes it felt slow and I just wanted her to get on with the story :).
Pachinko (BOTM) // Seriously loved this one and am super glad I picked it up again after putting it down before our Mexico trip. Epic generational tale of Koreans living in Japan (really loved learning more about that).
APRIL
Good As Gone (Kindle) // Definitely stayed interested and engaged with the story and wanted to know what was going to happen. As others have mentioned, the beginning felt stronger than the end. Felt like the author had a unique voice. Glad I read it. Three stars.
American War (BOTM) // This book took me longer to read than others recently and sometimes I would forget that it was a future US civil war vs. the past civil war and I wondered more than once where in the world the story was actually heading (and was it actually heading anywhere)? There were days where I felt like I was making myself read it - which I don't always don - but for some reason I wanted to keep reading. There was a certain point in this book, probably more than halfway through the story, where I realized that this was an exceptional book. I finished it today and I think it's one of the best books I've read in awhile. I found the author to be an extremely sophisticated writer/storyteller who was very purposeful and deliberate with his prose - I can't remember the last time I really felt that way about the words I was reading on the page.
Into The Water (BOTM) // A super fast, page-turning read for me. At first I felt like it was hard to keep up with all the different narrators but as I got more into it I was able to keep all the characters straight (it was one of those where I needed to keep flipping back and forth to remember who was who). Definitely enjoyed for a quick read!
MAY
Since We Fell (BOTM) // Totally enjoyed this one. Kept my interest with it's twists and definitely wanted to know what was going to happen in the end. As you might tell from most of my reviews, I'm not a super critical reader. If I like it, I like it and I liked this one.
Woman No. 17 (BOTM) // This one was a just-okay for me where I definitely felt like I was making myself finish it.
Small Great Things (Kindle) // So, so good. Hard and thought-provoking and worth it. Definitely my favorite of the month.
The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories Into Memoir //Picked this one up randomly at a bookstore. I'm always attracted to books about memoir writing (totally in alignment with my memory keeping endeavors) and this one really filled me up these last few weeks as I was working on some new classroom content. Patty Dann also loves to use one word jumping off points to pull stories from our memories/prompt us to tell more (similar to my 31 Things and 31 More Things workshops) so I loved checking out her writing style and reading her stories. I loved how her writing is fact based but conveys so much meaning and feeling just via the ways she chooses to construct her sentences. Quick and easy read.
JUNE
The Sisters Chase (BOTM) // Loved the story and the characters.
Chemistry (BOTM) // I really enjoyed the totally different writing style - basically it's written in snippets of thoughts/memories/etc. Being introduced to different writing styles is definitely one of the things I'm loving from reading so many books right now. I really liked the micro-story approach (a lot like what we do with memory keeping) and I also really liked the weaving of science/chemistry in with the lessons of life and love and moving forward. Super quick read.
This Is How It Always Is // Jessica Turner told me I had to read this one next so it jumped to the top of my list after I finished Chemistry. This book was amazing. Basically I feel a whole lot of love for this story. For the characters, for the message of acceptance and inclusion, for the nuances of the middle-path. Highly recommended.
JULY
Final Girls (BOTM) // Great quick mystery. Totally waned to know what happened in the end.
AUGUST
The Blinds (BOTM) // Really ended up enjoying this one.
All The Ugly And Wonderful Things (Kindle) // This is one of those ones that was recommended by quite a few people. Brutal. Honest. Challenging. Loved it.
SEPTEMBER
10% Happier // I devoured this book in just a couple sittings. Loved reading about his experience and his perspective as he learned - I laughed out loud a bunch and read passages to Aaron. Loved his honesty and his ability to change his mind about things/people he had initially been judgmental about. It was a good jumpstart for me as I'm getting started cultivating my own meditation practice.
Emma In The Night (BOTM) // Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and it definitely kept me interested in wanting to know what in the heck actually happened. I definitely love a good mystery and this one gave me what I wanted!
Little Fires Everywhere (BOTM) // My main criteria for enjoyment right now is basically this: do I think about the book during the day and look forward to reading it at night? That totally was the case with this story. Motherhood, art, family dynamics, love, loss - it was all there and weaved together nicely.
Braving The Wilderness // This is a timely book and a quick read and something I know I will return to again and again in terms of living in alignment with my personal values.
Sing, Unburied Sing (BOTM) // Finished this one last night. I found this one hard to get into in a good way - I'm challenged by the author's writing style in the way that I remember being challenged by important writers I read in high school and college. Her words are powerful and lyrical and I'm glad I took the time to read it.
OCTOBER
Startup // A fairly quick read. I can't remember reading another book recently that was so full of the technology of today. Definitely interesting overall but I felt like it ended quickly. Beasts Of Extraordinary Circumstances (BOTM) // I can’t remember the last time I read a book like this - it just thoroughly delighted me. I really enjoyed her writing style - especially noticing some of her word combinations. Loved the magic, loved a bunch of the chapters, and loved the way it was told through reach of their perspectives.What Made Maddy Run (Non-Fiction) // I first heard about this book on the "Feel Good Effect Podcast" where the author spoke about a bunch of different topics related to the heartbreaking story of the life of Madison Holleran: social media, perfectionism, college athletics, depression & anxiety, suicide, and transitions (among other things). This book totally made me think about all of those pieces in a variety of different ways. It made me think back to my own experience as a Division 1 athlete (swimming) and my transition from home to freshman year of college and how utterly exhausted I was which led me to quit after my freshman year (and how crazy my life was that first year of freedom with athletics, academics, and social stuff). It made me think about my own periods of anxiety and depression throughout my life - and mental health in general - and that very fine line between being okay and not being okay. It also really made me take a closer look at my own experience with social media and ask myself some hard questions about my own personal "whys" in terms of how our stories are told. I really enjoyed Kate Fagan's discussions regarding this topic and am interested in reading more. I think this is a super important read especially for parents and for student athletes - for awareness and compassion and a very hard look at the expectations we place on ourselves and others.
October 31, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Journal Video Walkthrough
Today I wanted to share a full video walk-through of the brand new December Daily® Journal. These are in-stock and ready to ship to help you intentionally plan and document your holiday season.
December Daily® Journals ship free for both domestic and international orders.
Give your December stories, notes, lists, and plans a home in this spiral bound December Daily® journal. Use it as a tool to organize your month and the content you want to later put into your December Daily® project album or use it as a guided memory planner to become your finished December Daily® project.
Here's a video that goes page by page through the journal so you can see what it's all about:
I hope this helps you intentionally experience your holiday season!
October 27, 2017
Best Thing Since Sliced Bread | 6x8 Layout
When I was cleaning up my table the other day after finishing up some projects I was totally inspired to print out this photo and tell this story about my two cats George + Sam using some of the pieces from the Best Story Kit™, Best Story Stamp™, and the add-ons offered this month for subscribers.
I am super loving the 6 inch x 8 inch size for my stories right now. It feels "just right" for me and my current storytelling season. I'm also still loving full page photos paired with full page journaling - it's one of the simple foundations I come back to again and again when I'm telling my stories.
These two cats are both really independent and it's rare to find them together like this. Loved telling this story.
I used the "best thing since sliced bread" from the Best Story Stamp™ and curved them to fit onto the add-on die cut banners.
Don't forget that the lids of my inks are great to use as your stamping block - makes it super easy to see where you are stamping.
The chipboard arrow is from the Best Story Kit™ and the "love" rubber word is one of the add-on options for subscribers this month.
I used my Brother Sewing machine to add the stitched border around the outside edge and used a rolling date stamp to add the date.
Words and photos for the win!
Have an awesome weekend!
October 23, 2017
December Daily® 2016 | Full Video Overview
As we continue moving forward towards December I wanted to take some time today to share an overview of my completed 2016 December Daily® album.
You can read about each individual day in my blog post archives (includes product details, etc). You can also check out my 2016 December Daily® videos on my youtube channel here.
I love to begin the process of putting together my own foundation pages (my starting point where I do some of my creating in advance of December) with a look back at my past albums. What did I love? What do I want to do different? What was I missing? These questions and the answers help inform the choices I'll be making as I build my album from now through December 25.
This project is attainable. This project, and the stories you will tell within this album, are valuable.
Here's a look at what I put together last year for my December Daily® album:
If you are interested in more full walk-throughs of all my past albums check out my Storytelling With December Daily® workshop which will be available starting on November 1st. If you've already taken that workshop and are looking for something new, check out by new December Daily® Product Play workshop which is now open for registration (first content will be available on November 1).
My plan is to work on my 2017 December Daily® foundation pages this week and share them on here soon.
My past December Daily® blog post archive is available here.
October 21, 2017
A Look At My 2017 Project Life® Album(s) So Far
Today I wanted to share a video overview of where I'm at in my Project Life® album(s) for 2017.
I've got the first half of the year complete - January through June - and have made a start on printing photos and completing weeks for the second half of the year. I'll walk you through both albums in my video below:
Bottom line for me:
I still love working in the 12x12size for this project and plan to continue that next year.I still love having each spread be one week. It fits the kinds of photos and stories I want to include.I still love filling all the 4x6 pockets with photos and a title card. I choose seven photos to represent my week and then usually include a couple other 3x4 photos. I still love using repetition with embellishments and design as I create these spreads.Check out all my past Project Life® posts here.
Many of these spreads were completed using Story Kit™and Story Stamp™ products and my process for those pages was shared in each of those classrooms. Learn more about my Story Kit™ subscription here.
If you'd like a deep dive into my Project Life® process, including a look back through all my past albums, check out my Storytelling With Project Life® workshop.
October 19, 2017
December Daily® Product Play Workshop Now Open For Registration
Registration is open and more details are now available about my December Daily® Product Play workshop.
The classroom is open (forum) with the first delivery of content coming on Wednesday, November 1st. All content will be delivered over the next three weeks (after November 1) on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
In Product Play we will take a closer look at creating pages with three specific shapes in December Daily® documentation: circles, hearts and stars. These happen to be three of my favorite shapes and there are so many different ways you can creatively play with them to support and complement your stories - from using already designed products to creating your own. Throughout the class we'll also be talking about the specific design concepts that go into working with these shapes which will be useful for you in projects going forward (repetition, layering, scale, etc). I'll be using some products from this year's December Daily® collection but the products are not required as many ideas can be translated to what you might have in your memory keeping product stash. As always I'll be coming at this with storytelling and simple design at the forefront.
Please note: Ideas and pages created for this workshop will become part of my December Daily® Foundation Pages for 2017. As always I will be sharing an overview look at all my Foundation Pages on my blog in late October/early November - this means that the pages I'll be showing you how i create will likely be shown on my blog before the how-to appears here in the classroom. The actual how-to process videos and step-by-steps of my 9 specific pages created for this class will be exclusive to this workshop.
For this workshop I've invited six contributors to each create a lesson around one of these shapes. You'll receive content and ideas from Brandi Kincaid, Ingunn Markiewicz, Laura Wonsik, Jen Schow, Kelly Ishmael, and Pam Baldwin.
Included with this workshop:
Full color handouts for each topic that include ideas and how-to's A main presentation and 3 process videos/started pages for each theme from Ali A process video and how-to lesson from each Contributor Additional digital tutorials when applicable (for a deep dive into working with digital products in paper projects check out my Hybrid workshop ) Digital package that includes PNG files
Here's a look at the digital package included with the class:
Here's a few looks at some of the things we'll be playing with:
Come play with us! Full details and sign up here.
October 18, 2017
Fall Product Release Now Available
Happy middle-of-October!
Today I'm happy to share with you a small Fall Release filled with products to help you tell your stories. We also have a couple new lifestyle products now available that you can check out at the end of this post.
Included below is a video walk-through of the new products we have available.
Digital versions of these products will be released over the next couple of months (at the beginning of the month along with our other monthly digital releases unless otherwise noted in the description).
First up there are two new journal card sets. Each of these sets includes two of each design so you don't have to even think about whether you will use one side or the other.
The two themes available this time include a Fall/Autumn set and a Family set.
Three new stamp sets include a Before/After, a 6x8 alphabet set (that is a companion for this sans serif set), and another set that is perfect for using with the 2-inch Avery Index Tabs.
For this release we also have a fun set of four fall rubber words, a new mini-ink bundle, and a set of my favorite label stickers (comes in a pack of ten).
A new product for this release is a set of 3x8 journal cards and patterns that fit right into my 3x8 page protectors. We do offer a digital version of some of these cards at this time here: Stories Of Life 3x8 Layered Templates.
VIDEO OVERVIEW | FALL PRODUCT RELEASE
LIFESTYLE PRODUCT RELEASES
Another brand new product we have available are water bottles. You have the option of a white or a black water bottle.
We also added two more color options of the Progress Not Perfection tank. We have restocked the dark grey version and you can also grab this one in white or pink now.
As always, thank you so much for helping to support my mission to help people tell the stories of their lives.
October 16, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Digital Products Now Available
This year's December Daily® digital products are now available in the shop.
Just like last year, I have included
6x8, 4x6, and 3x4 overlays - sold in individual packages - as well as offering a combo pack that includes all three sizes. Each package includes 31 individual PNG files for each day in December.
Here's a look at the digitals that are available this year:
December Daily® 2017 Digital: 3x4 Overlays
December Daily® 2017 Digital: 4x6 Overlays
December Daily® 2017 Digital: 6x8 Overlays
December Daily® 2017 Digital: Combo Pack Overlays
LAYERED TEMPLATES
December Stories 6x8 Layered Templates Vol. 4
December Stories 4x6 Layered Templates Vol. 4
MAIN + MINI KITS
December Daily® 2017 Digital Ali Edwards Main Kit
December Daily® 2017 Digital: Jasmine Jones Mini Kit
December Daily® 2017 Digital: Paislee Press Mini Kit
December Daily® 2017: Kids Mini Kit
December Daily®: December Circles Stamp Set
December Daily®: December Moments Stamp Set
December Daily®: Holiday Words Stamp Set
December Daily®: Weekly Stamp Set
December Daily®: Paislee Press Stamp Set
December Daily®: Jasmine Jones Stamp Set
EMBELLISHMENTS & JOURNAL CARDS
December Daily®: 2x2 Die Cut Pack
December Daily®: Black & White Journal Cards
December Daily®: Colorful Holiday Journal Cards
December Daily®: Religious Journal Cards
December Daily® 2017: 4x4 Journal Cards No. 1
December Daily® 2017: 4x4 Journal Cards No. 2
December Daily® 2017: Chipboard Bundle
December Daily® 2017: Rubber Shapes
December Daily® 2017: Large Shipping Tags
December Daily®: Pattern Paper Pack
December Daily®: Star Embellishment Pack
December Daily®: 6x8 Transparency Pack
December Daily®: Phrase Sticker Bundle
October 13, 2017
Story Kit™ + Story Stamp™ | Best
In the Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of Best.
Earlier this year we changed up our kit pages and each subscription now has it's own shop page that you can check out here:
Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, and Digital Story Kit™ (there are links to each one at the bottom of each page). As a subscriber you also have kit pages for each of your subscriptions located under your User Name in the top right corner of the page (this is where you go to select any Add-On purchases to be shipped with your box between now and June 14th at 11:59PM Eastern).
Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme:
We all have things we feel are "the best” in our lives - places, people/friends, books, movies, foods, memories. Most of us also, at certain times in our lives, give our best to one thing or another with varied results that are both outside of and within our control. This month we are telling stories surrounding the theme of “best."
Initial story ideas for the Best theme include:
If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details here.
If you are already a subscriber the content in the classroom will be available to you on the 15th.
Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Best:
ADD ON OPTIONS | Current and new subscribers can select + purchase Add-On's via your new drop-down menu access under your user name in the top right corner of the site. If you subscribe to more than one you will have a Box for each subscription and the ability to purchase Add-On's for each one. Depending on product availability subscribers may be able to purchase the Add-On's after the Add-On period has ended and regular shop shipping rates will apply because they will ship separately from the kit.
Here are the optional Add-Ons for subscribers of the Best Story Kit™ theme. All three of these products are exclusive to subscribers at this time (but may be added to the shop in the future). Some months we will have only new theme-based products as part of the Add-On selection and other months we might include a staple item from the shop.
Here's a video overview of the
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:
STORY STAMP™
The
Best Story Stamp™:
The
Story Stamp™ also has Add-On options available to subscribers:
Here's a video overview of the Story Stamp™ and Add-On options this month:
There is also a
Digital Story Kit™ subscription available that includes access to the classroom content.
Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 15th once your card has been charged for the month. Here's a look at what's included for Best (which also shows all the designs for the journal cards included in the printed version of the kit):
Digital Story Kit™ subscribers also have five Add-On options available (if you subscribe to both the Story Kit™ and the Story Stamp™ these should also be available to you for purchase):
And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month in addition to the one featured at the top of this post ( full details, including process videos and how-to handout, are included with subscription):
Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering my
Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let me know below in the comments.
October 12, 2017
AE Creative Team | Time Digital Story Kit™
Happy Thursday!
We're so happy to share the projects created by our awesome Creative Team using the Time Digital Story Kit™. Today is the last day left to start a subscription to receive this current theme.
A big thank you to our awesome team for sharing the stories of their lives and crafting it so beautifully!
